Friend missing in former land of dreams

Diana Anver from Eltham does not think Jarrod Gane, 26, has survived the blast.

Bali once brought back picturesque memories for Diana Anver - including those of her wedding there two years ago.

During this holiday she and her husband Zack were meeting 14 friends from around Australia and the world. The couple arrived back at Melbourne Airport yesterday afternoon.

"I've been to Bali seven times, but this is my last time," Mrs Anver said. "It was a special place for me, but not any more."

Of the group, 15 have survived but Queenslander Jarrod Gane, 26, is missing. "We think he was in Paddy's bar, up the top and that's why we don't think he's probably made it," Ms Anver said. "He was last seen 20 minutes before the explosion, and he was walking into the direction of it."

At the time of the blast, Ms Anver was at the Simpang Hotel preparing to meet the others at the Sari Club at midnight. Her husband was in a bar at the opposite end of Kuta's main street. They spent the next hour trying to find each other.

"There were just bodies along the road," Ms Anver said. "People carrying people, and they were probably dead. Just carrying them along the road - trying to put them into taxis.

"Zack went to the hospital, and he had to look at bodies to try to find our friend but he couldn't even tell if they were male or female."